“And you believe I should lead this restoration,” I say carefully.
“Not believe.” Creed’s voice carries absolute certainty. “Know. Youarethe restoration. Everything we’ve worked for. Everything we’ve preserved.” He pauses. “You cannot have forgotten what you fight for. What you’ve always fought for.”
But Ihaveforgotten.
Everything.
They don’t know this. They speak to me as if I should understand. As if these words should resonate. As if I should be nodding along, agreeing, planning.
I do none of these things.
“I will not help you,” I say.
Vex blinks. As if he genuinely didn’t consider this possibility.
“Wait,” he says carefully. “Perhaps you misunderstand our intentions. We are not asking you to create something new. We are simply… continuing what you began. What you would want.” His voice rises with passion. “The clansneedthis. They’ve lost their way. Grown soft. Integrated with humans. Diluted their bloodlines.” He leans closer. “You know the cost of such weakness. You’ve seen it. And you know what must be done to correct it.”
I know nothing of the sort.
But I’m starting to understand something more dangerous.
They think I’m someone I’m not. Someone important. Someone who shares their vision.
Someone who would willingly lead them in conquest.
“What I know,” I say slowly, “is that you have mistaken me for someone who shares your beliefs.”
Creed’s expression doesn’t change, but something shifts in his eyes. Calculation.
“Then perhaps I can convince you,” he says.
“I doubt it.” I settle back in my seat, leveling them with a stare.
“The woman,” he says quietly. “She matters to you.”
Every muscle in my body goes rigid.
“You will not touch her.”
“We have no interest in harming her,” Vex says, waving dismissively. “She’s human. Beneath notice. But—” His eyes glitter. “She is leverage. I can send my men back there if I must. But you are too intelligent to sacrifice an innocent for stubbornness.”
Rage floods my system at what he’s implying. The suppression devices scream, responding to the surge of power trying to break free.
Pain lances through my skull.
I grit my teeth against it. Force the fire back down.
Creed watches this with fascination. “Remarkable. Even suppressed, you nearly broke through.” He stands. “Imagine what you could do at full strength. With proper focus.” He moves toward the door. “With proper purpose.”
“I am not what you think I am.”
“You are exactly what we think you are.” Vex stands as well. “Whether you choose to accept it or not. The blood knows. The fire knows.” He places his fist over his heart again. “We have waited. Prepared. Built this organization from scattered remnants. Preserved the pure bloodlines. All for this moment.”
They’re at the door when Vex turns back.
“Consider what we offer,” he says. “Not servitude. But leadership. The world as it should be, with our kind ruling as we were meant to. As you know we were meant to. All we require is your acceptance.” His smile is cold. “Stand with us. Lead us to reclaim what humanity stole. And the woman goes free. Protected. Untouched.”
“And if I refuse?”
